Coffee Shop Losing Its Magic? Find Motivation in a Forgotten Environment
I take my laptop almost everywhere I go. As a digital creative professional and hobbyist, I never know when I will have a little down time and want to put in a few minutes or a few hours on a project. Often I work from home, from the wonders of my coffee table in front of the television. Sometimes I get the opportunity for a few minutes between clients at my day job. And every once in a while I will spoil myself with an extravagantly priced cup of coffee and work from the local coffee house.
New Environment
This afternoon a good friend, mentioned that she’d be doing some studying at the local library, and perhaps this would be a good chance to spend some time together face-to-face. I was at a breaking point in my work, and decided it would be nice to see her, and to be out of the house for a while.
At this point I should guiltily admit that since moving to Cleveland I had not taken the time to apply for a library card. Sure there are branches all over the greater Cleveland area, one even just a few blocks from my home, but it was one of those thing I kept putting off. Today I figured I had procrastinated long enough. I would take a few minutes and get a card.
Finding The Magic
If you’ve ever seen the movie The Pagemaster with Macaulay Culkin and Christopher Lloyd, then you’ve seen what I experienced. I handed the librarian my application and a few pieces of identification to prove my residence, she typed away at her computer for a few moments and then slid me a card that seemed to magically glow in the palm of my hand. I stared at it for a moment with a smile and then tucked it safely into my wallet.
I met my friend at the back of the library in the quiet study area. We whispered hello and caught up briefly before she set to her work and I to mine. As I sat in that quiet space, the magic card in my pocket began to glow. Its aura encompassed me. I was drawn to my work with a focus I had not experienced in years.
Like magic, the work flew by in no time! Video projects were completed within moments. Articles were written, and blogs updated. Surrounded by the wisdom of the years, I was productive and inspired beyond my wildest imagination.
Productivity When You Least Expect It
My friend and I occasionally exchanged glances, admiring each other’s productivity and casually wondering how our individual studies we progressing. But we each knew that this place had a hold of us. We knew that we were caught up I the magic of the library.
If you haven’t rediscovered your local library for a while, I encourage you to do so. Take the time to get a library card, your passport to adventure. It will lead you places you never imagined you could go. It’s the best investment I’ve made in a long time!
The library is one of my favorite places to do my writing, along with a local “priced-up” coffee shop. Before beginning my last writing project, it was years since I set foot in a library. When I started writing (in September of last year), I was looking for an additional writing spot I could utilize. I found a perfect place within the library! It’s quiet, calm, and helps me stay focused on the task at hand… WRITING!
I’m glad I’m not alone in finding that productivity bug in the library, Andrew. Thanks for the comment. Keep writing!
Great article Eric! I’m absolutely in love with our local library, but I couldn’t possibly get any writing done there – yes, they have many comfortable places in which to work, but I’m one that must be completely free of distraction when working. I’ve tried working in the library but my attention is always turned towards patrons who are too interesting to ignore. But at least there’s great opportunity for inspiration in that!
That said, I do visit my library at least every two weeks to load up on books, (if I didn’t read so much I’d get a lot more writing done). Even though I search the catalog on line before I leave my house, and have my list ready, I inevitably end up seeing something I hadn’t planned to check out, and have often been discovered sitting in the middle of the floor in an aisle, reading, and not even realize I had settled down until someone said “excuse me”.
Yes, the library is one of the most magical places on earth!
I completely agree, Deanna. It’s hard to not find that “just one more book” when browsing the stacks. This is precisely why bookstores are dangerous for me. It’s east to get carried away! But that’s what books are for, right? To carry us away.
Hi Eric
Nice article! I had exactly the same experience as you when we moved to this little market town in the UK a few years ago and I joined after many years of buying books.
Unfortunately we don’t have wifi in the library and sometimes it can be very noisy, what with kids looking for books and people using the information centres downstairs – the silence that used to be demanded in libraries seems to be a thing of the past!
However, I do occasionally pop in when bored with my home office to make notes for a project or scan the newspapers, and I hope one day wifi will arrive :-)
Thanks, Judy.
It can be nice at times to unplug from the world, to be in a place without the demand for internet or electricity; to just curl up with a good book.
I completely understand what you mean about the library becoming a noisy space. Sometimes that is the case. My library even has a designated quiet area coordined off from the rest of the open area. I found this odd, but can somewhat see the need and fun for interacting with other patrons. Though it may not be as quiet as it used to be, often the library is still a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the local coffee house.
This article is so inspiration and full of life that I would love to feature it on my web site. I could post the link so they could go directly to it, also. Let me know if you’d be O.K. with that.
From a fellow writer,
Danae Infinger
As the author I’m ok with you reusing it with credit and a link, but I’d say check with our editor, Christopher Jackson, before proceeding.
Hey Danae,
That would be great! If you would like to share the article with your readers, that would be wonderful, as long as you include the link here of course.
Really glad you enjoyed Eric’s article, and thanks for spreading the word!
You must have been reading my mind when you wrote this article. I have found libraries to be the best place to write, because they are (1) free, (2) quiet (usually), (3) a great place for people watching and (4) the best resource for references.
I still go to some coffee shops for more people watching and to do some planning and to worry over a plot or character, but it is generally too noisy for any real creative work for me.
Because I practically grew up in a library and am comfortable there, I am now trying to spend some time searching out libraries in nearby towns and universities. It is an interesting hobby and I find librarians are under appreciated and very helpful.
Keep up the inspiration!
Exploring new libraries around town sounds like it could be a great adventure! Thanks for the idea. I think I might give it a try.